Measuring apparatus for liquids.



J. W. GAMBLE.

MEASURING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- WITNESSES a. w 2

J. W. GAMBLE.

MEASURING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. I913- Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

//V VE/V TOR 1/2 A TTOH/VEYS THE coLuMmA PLANDGRAPH cu., WASHINGTON. D.c.

JOSEPH W. GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 HARRISON,

SAFETY BOILER WORKS, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COBARTNER-SHIP OFPENNSYLVANIA.

MEASURING APPARATUS FOR LIQUIDS.

379,2351 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 28, 1913. SerialNo. 797,737.

To all 20 ham it may concern:

Be it lniown that I, Josnrrr N. GAMBLE, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county oflPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Measuring Apparatus for Liquids, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for measuring the flow of water, ofparticular utility in connection with a heater for heating water to besupplied to steam generating apparatus. 1

The invention is of special utility in connection with apparatus of thecharacter disclosed in Patent No. 1,015,556, dated January 23, 1912.

In the operation consuming apparatus, it is highly desirable that t ewater supplied to the steam generating apparatus be measured and it hasbeen the practice heretofore to make such measurement as the water flowsfrom the heater for preliminarily heatingthe water to the boiler. Forthis purpose, two chambers have been employed separated by a notchedwall constituting a weir over which the water flows fromthe firstchamber to the second and the supply of water to the heater or to thefirst chamber has been controlled by the level of the water in thesecond chamber. Also, the desired measurement has been made by measuringthe head of the water in the first chamber so as to determine the rateat which the water flows through the notch of the weir.

In using apparatus of this character, it has been found that the recordof the water passing through the apparatus has not been as accurate asis desired. The opening of the inlet for supplying water to the heateris not accompanied by a prompt response of the recording instrument andsimilarly when the inlet is closed, the recording devices will show arecord of the supply of water to the heater for an appreciable timeafter the closing of the inlet.

The present invention is directed to the improvement of apparatus ofthis character whereby a more accurate and reliable record is obtainedof the water supplied by the apparatus to the boiler, whereby the sizeofthe of steam generating and apparatus is-Inaterially reduced because asmaller storage capacity for water is, ren--.-

dered sufficient, and whereby the cost; of manufacture and the spacerequired for in stallation are reduced as a result of the decrease inthe size of the apparatus These objects are attained by regulating theadmission of water to the apparatusin a particular manner responsive tovariations in the level of the water in the outboard chamber on thedelivery side of the weir. This manner of admitting water to theapparatus is such-that considerable fluctuations in the level of thewater in the. outboard chamber and that the rate ofad'mis' areprevented,

sion of water to the admission side of the weir is at all times morenearly proportional to the rate at which wateris withdrawn from theapparatus to the boiler, than in former measuring dBVlCGS of thecharacter Patented Feb. 1,1916.

referred to, with which I am familiar, In

such former apparatus,employing a single valve for governlng the wateradm1'ss1on, controlled by a float in the outboard chamber, theregulation of amount of water supplied the apparatus is not,'under allcircumstances, responsive to the varying demand made upon the apparatusby the boiler. After withdrawal of Water at a high rate, for example,with the admission valve wide open, followed by and while the waterwhich has passed the valve when it closes is reaching the admissionchamber of the device. This results in a head of water flowing over theweir greater than is required by the concurrent amount supplied theboiler, and the flow oyer the weir makes a record h1gher than iswarranted as a record of water supplied the boiler at that time.

water in the outboard to be.

By my invention, the admission of water to the apparatus is socontrolled that the rate of flow into the admission chamber, andconsequently the head of water flowing over the weir at any moment ismuch more closely a cessationof the demand, there is a r1se of the wateron the admisslon side of the weir while thevalve isclosing', 5

proportional to the rate of withdrawal of water from the apparatus,without necessitating so large an outboard chamber as formerly. As theflow over the weir is related to the head of water, from which it iscomputed, in a V-notch meter, by a well known formula, it is obviousthat my invention gives a more accurate record of the water fed to theboiler at all times. By my invention, it may be that the previous error,due to the lapse of time between the regulating movement of the valveand the entry of water then passing the valve into the ad missionchamber, is largely overcome. ll may accomplish this result by theprovision of a plurality of admission valves and governing apparatus forthe same, or by a single valve and apparatus for controlling the same inthe desired manner, as will subsequently appear.

If the apparatus consists of a heater and a measuring device combined ina unitary structure, then it is the mechanism for admitting Water to theheater that is so controlled; but if the apparatus comprises a heaterand a measuring device as distinct units though connected together, theneither the inlet of water to the heater or the inlet of water to themeasuring device from the heater may be so controlled. The inventioninvolves admitting water to the apparatus at an increasing rate as thelevel of the water in the outboard chamber on the delivery side of theWeir falls until that level reaches a predetermined point when. the rateof admission of the water is changed. Also, the rate of admission of thewater is held substantially constant while the level of the water in theoutboard chamber is falling between certain limits and when the leveldrops below these limits, the rate of admission of the water isincreased. The pre ferred manner of practising the invention involvesincreasing the rate of supply of water as the level of the water in theoutboard chamber falls to a predetermined point, then holding the rateof supply of water substantially constant while the level of the waterin the outboard chamber falls from that point to a second predeterminedpoint and again increasing the rate of sup ply of water as the level ofthe water in the outboard chamber falls below the second predeterminedpoint. By proceeding in this manner, there is a Zone established throughwhich the level of the water in the outboard chamber may fall while therate of supply of water is maintained substantially constant. In manyinstances, this rate of supply would be sufficient to make up for waterdrawn from the apparatus and it would be given ample opportunity to makeup for the water drawn off but if such rate of supply provedinsufficient, as would be evidenced by a drop of the level in theoutboard chamber beyond a predetermined point, then water would beautomatically supplied at a higher rate.

Various constructions may be employed for so affecting the rate ofsupply of water in the manner above indicated as to secure more accuraterecords, and I have shown in the accompanying drawings severalembodiments ofthe invention; it will be understood however, that theinvention is not limited to any particular construction.

in these drawlngs, Figure 1 1s a sectional elevation of a combinedheating and measuring apparatus employing the invention, F

2 1s a detail view partly in section of the trays 7 mounted therein. Thewater supply pipe 8 admits water to the top of the heater so that it isdelivered into the box 6 from which it overflows upon the trays 7. Steamis admitted to the heater through the pipe 9 which is connected to aseparator 10 for catching oil and water. From the separator 10 oil andwater caught thereby drip through a pipe 11 into a trap 12 which isconnected to the heater by an opening 13. This trap 12 has afloat-operated valve therein which controls the passage of the drip fromthe separator 10 and the overflow from the heater to waste through apipe 14. The water heated by the steam rising around the trays 7accumulates in a chamber 15 at the bottom of the heater 5, which chamberhas a perforated bai'lle 16 at the bottom thereof. if desired, thisbattle may be used for the support of filtering material. The waterpassing through the baiiie 16 accumulates in a chamber 17 having a wall18 at one side thereof which is provided with one or more notches 19 andconstitutes a weir over which water may overflow from the chamber 17 toa second chamber 20. .Vater may be drawn off from the chamber 20 throughan outlet pipe 21, which pipe may lead to tl e boilerfeeding devices.Preferably a pipe 56 connects the heater 5 and the chamber .20 so thatthe pressure within these two will be the same at all times.

A cylindrical chamber or receptacle 22 is suspended within the'chamber20 and is connected by means of a pipe 23 with the chamber 17 so thatthe level of the water in the receptacle 22 is always the same as thelevel within the chamber 17. In this receptacle 22 is a float 24 andmounted above the receptacle and above chamber 20 is a recorder 25 whosemarkin device 26 is contraveling sheet 27 which is preferably a strip ofpaper wound around a drum which is driven by a time train.

The water supply pipe is shown at 28. It has two branches 29 and .30,both of which are connected to the pipe 8 which conveys water to theheater 5. In each of the branches 29 and 30 is" a valve. The

valve 31 in pipe 30 is preferably much smaller than the valve 32 in pipe29. This valve 31 is operated automatically by a float 33 in the chamber20. A second float 34 in chamber 20 and mounted at a lower level thanthe float 33 is adapted to operate the valve 32, suitable links.35-beingprovided for connecting the floats 33 and 34 with the valvesoperated thereby. The floats 33 and 34 are so arranged that the level ofthe water in tank 20 which causes float 33 to open valve 31 the maximumamount is substantially higher than the level which the water must reachbefore it begins to actuate float 34 so as to open valve 32. As a resultof this arrangement of the floats and valves, when the level of thewater; in chamber 20 falls, there is a substantial period after valve 31is open the maximum amount before valve 32 is opened at all, duringwhichperiod the rate of supply of water through pipes 28 and 8 to theheater would be substantially constant.

The important levels of the water in the ghamber 20 are indicated bybrokenlines in Fig. 2. which the movement of float 33 to open valve 31begins and when the water falls to" the level, indicated by the line 37,the valve operated by float 33 is open to its full extent. The level ofthe water in chamber 20 may fall from that indicated by line 37 to thatindicated by line 38 without change in the position of valves 31 and 32,the valve 31 being open wide and the valve 32 being closed.

supply of water to the heater 5. When the level ofthe water in'chamber20 is within this zone, that is, between the limits 37 and 38, thesupply of water to the heater will be substantially constant, the ratebeing determined by the size or extent of opening of the valve 31. Itwill be understood thatthe extent to which this valve 31 may be openedby float 33 may be made adjustable so as to vary the position of thepredetermined limit 37 for the constant water. supply. When the level ofthe water in chamber 20 falls below line 38, the float 34 is actuatedand the dropping of that level from line 38 to line 39 will cause float34 to open the valve 32.

The rate of supply of water to, the heater, will thus be increased untilfloat 34 reaches line '39 when valve 32 will be open Wide The line 36indicates the level at and water will be'supplied to the heater at themaximum rate. There is thus provided a means for varying the rate ofsupply of water to the heater a pluralityof times as the level of thewater in the second chamber;

reaches a plurality of different points The rate of supplyof water isheld substantially "constant when the level of the water in the secondchamber is between certain limits,

- but when that level is either above or "below these limits, the rateof supply of water to the heater is automatically varied. This resultsin far more accurate registration of the quantity of water supplied bythe apparatus through the pipe 21. If but one float were employedcontrolling a single water supply, the drawing offof a substantialquantity of water from chamber 20 would cause this one valve to beopened wide admitting water at a high rate and when the withdrawal ofwater was discontinued, the supply of water would be maintained for anappreciable time thereafter and might then result in raising the levelof the water in chamber 17 higher than is desired, this being followedby a lowering of the level. in chamber 1.7 as water flowed'therefromover the construction herein described, the provision for the supply ofwater at a substantially constant rate which is less than the maximumrate, makes itpossible to obtain much more accurate measurement records,for the maximum water supply of which the-valve 31 is capable is givenample opportunity to make up for water drawn from the apparatus beforethe larger valve'32 is brought into action and the latter is employedonly when its use is made necessary by the withdrawal o1 an unusuallylarge quantity of v water. Furthermore, when valve 32 is used, The lines37 and 38 therefore indicate the limits of a Zone of constant rate ofits use is discontinued before the water in the apparatus is entirelyreplenished so that the rate of supply of water, after the withdrawalofwater has been discontinued, is greatly reduced. r

In Fig. 3, I have shown a modified form of apparatus for operating inaccordance with the invention. In this apparatus, the water supply pipeis shown at 40 and is controlled by a valve 41 which is preferably achronometer valve. A float 42 in the second chamber 20 operates themovable member of the valve 41. The lever of float 42 is conv nected toa vertical link 43 whose upper end is threaded and provided withadjust-- able nuts44 and 45. A sleeve 46 encircles the link 42 betweenthese nuts and is pivotally connected to a weighted lever 47 se cured tothe movable member of valve 41.

The, end oflever 47 is adapted to engage vertically adjustable weightson a rod 49 suspended from the pipe 40. When the level of the water inchamber 20 falls from the line 36 to the line 37, the float 42 isactuated to raise rod 43 and thus permit the weight 50 on lever 47 toopen the valve 41. When the level of the water reaches the line 37, theend of lever 47 engages weights 48 which arrest the movement of lever 47actuated by weight 50. The level of the water in chamber 20 may thenfall from the line 37 to the line 38 unaccompanied by movement of themovable member of valve 41, for as the float 42 moves in response tothis drop of the water level the end of rod 43 moves freely upwardthrough sleeve 46. When the water level reaches the line 38, the nuts 45on rod 43 will have engaged the sleeve 46. There fore when the waterlevel falls below line 88, red 43 actuateS lever 47 through nuts 45 soas to open the valve 41 wider, the lifting power of the float 42 beingsuiiicient to raise the weights 48, particularly when aided by theweight 50.

With this apparatus, substantially the same results are obtained as withthe apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the water level in chamber 20varies between lines 36 and 37, the extent of opening of the valve andhence the rate of supply of water to the heater are varied betweenrelatively low limits; when the level of the water varies between lines37 and 38, the extent of opening of valve 41 remains unchanged; andwhen. the level of the water varies between lines 38 and 39, the extentof opening of the valve 41 is varied between relatively large limits. 1

Fig. 4 shows a further modification of the construction, whereby thesame results are obtained. In this apparatus, the float in chamber 20 isarranged to actuate a cam 51 having a portion 52 of constantly increasing radius, a portion 53 01" substantially constant radius and a portion54 of constantly increasing radius. This cam 51 ac tuates a valve 41 inthe water supply pipe through a suitable link 55 having a roller at itsend which rides on the periphery of cam 51. The operation of thismechanism will be apparent from the foregoing description, the movementof the float actuating the cam, for example, by means of the sectormounted to oscillate with the float and engaging a gear on the shaft ofthe cam. as illustrated.

In, the foregoing I have illustrated embodiments of my invention asemployed in connection with a heater and measuring apparatus combined ina unitary structure. This construction, however, is by no meansessential to the employment of the invention. The measuring apparatusmay be distinct from the heating apparatus, a pipe being providedbetween the two to carry the heated water from the heater to themeasuring apparatus which latter Would be divided into two chambers by awall which forms the weir. The float-operated mechanism in the secondchamber of this measuring apparatus would then be arranged to controlthe admission of water to the heater or the flow of Water from theheater to the measuring apparatus as desired. Whether the apparatus beconstructed with the measuring apparatus and the heater combined in asingle structure as illustrated in the drawings or made as separateunits is immaterial so far as concerns the application thereto of theautomatic controlling means herein de scribed for automaticallyregulating the ad mission of water to the apparatus.

As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus is provided with threewater-receiving chambers in the lower portion thereof, the down-takechamber, the approach or stillwater chamber 17 and the outboard ordischarge chamber 20. This is the construction which I prefer to employ,though it will be understood that modification in this respect may bemade without ail ecting the utility of my invention, for the employmentor the invention requires merely that there be two chambers from one ofwhich the water fiows into the other over a weir.

Having described my invention, what 1 claim as new therein and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United Fitates is:

1. A. combined water heating and measuring apparatus comprising aheater, a water inlet connected thereto, a chamber into which waterflows from the heater, a second chamber into which water flows from thefirst chamber over a weir, and means for increasing the flow of waterthrough said water inlet as the level of the water in said secondchamber falls and for varying the rate of such increase when said levelreaches a predetermined point, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a chamber, a water inlet connected thereto, asecond chamber into which water flows from the first chamber over aweir, and means for admitting water to the first chamber through saidinlet, for maintaining the rate of admission of such water substantiallyconstant when the level of the water in said second chamber is above apredetermined point and for increasing the rate of admission of suchwater when the level of the water in said second chamber falls belowsaid point, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a chamber, a water inlet connected thereto, asecond chamber into which water flows from the first chan her over aweir, and means for admitting water to the first chamber through saidinlet, increasing the rate of flow of such water as the level of thewater in said second chamber falls, holding the rate of flow of suchwater substantially constant when said level falls beyond apredetermined point and increasing the rate of flow of such water whensaid level falls beyond a second predetermined point, substantially asset forth.

4i. The combination of two water cham bers having a weir between'themover which.

water flows from the firstchamber into the second, means for admittingwater to the first chamber and means for changing the rate of admissionof such water a plurality of times as the level of the water 1n thesecond chamber falls to different points, sub

stantially as set forth.

5. The combination of two water chambers having a weir between them overwhich water flows from the first chamber into the second, and means foradmitting water to -named limits, substantially as set forth.

6. A combined water heating and measuring apparatus comprising a heater,a water inlet connected thereto, a chamber into which water flows fromthe heater, a second chamber into which water flows from the firstchamber over a weir, and means for admitting water to the heater throughthe water inlet at a substantially constant rate when the level of thewater in said second chamber is between certainlimits and for varyingthe rate at wlnchsuch water is admitted when the level of the water inthe second chamber is either above or below said limits, substantiallyas set forth.

7 The combination of two water chambers having a weir between them overwhich water flows from the first chamber to the second, two means foradmitting water to the first chamber and two floats in the secondchamber each controlling one of said means, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of two water chambers having a weir between them overwhich water flows from the first chamber to the Copies of this patentmay be obtained for second, two pipes connected to the first chamber, avalve in each pipe, and two floats in the second chamber each connectedto a valve, said floats being spaced apart so that the position of onefloat for completing theopening of one valve is above the position ofthe other float forcommencing theopening of the other valve,substantially-as set forth.

9. The combination of a water receptacle, means for withdrawing watertherefrom, a water inlet therefor, and automatic controlling means foradmitting water to said receptacle through said inlet when the level ofthe water in the receptacle is within certain limits, for holding therate of flow substantially constant when said level is within certainlower limits and for increasing the supply when said level is below saidlimits, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of two water chambers, a weir between them overwhich water flows from the first chamber to the second, a source ofsupply of water, a plurality of valves controlling the flow of waterfrom said source to the first chamber, means for automatically openingsaid valves successively as the level of the water in the second chamberfalls and a pipe for withdrawing water from the second chamber,substantially as set forth. v

11. The combination of two chambers, a

weir betweenthem over which water flows from the firstchamber to thesecond, a pipe for admitting water to the first chamber, valvemechanismin said pipe controlled by the level of water in the second chamber foradmitting water through said pipe at an increasing rate as the level ofthe water in the second chamber falls, and for varying said rate ofincrease when said levelreaches a predetermined point, and means'forwithdrawing water from the second chamber, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessedv this 25th day of October,.1913.t

J W. GAMBLE.

Witnesses: i

ROBERT G. CLIFTON, M. M. FULTON, Jr.

Washington, D. G.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 1,170,239.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,170,239, grantedFebruary 1,

1 1916, upon the application of Joseph W. Gamble, of Philadelphia,Pennsylvania, for

an improvement in Measuring Apparatus for Liquids, an error appears in.the

printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 127,referencenumeral, for 42 read 43, and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the case in the Patent Office.

' Signed and sealed this 22d clay of February, A. D., 1916.

[SEAL.] R. F. VHITEHEAD,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. Cl. 2614.

